In a shortage, the trap isn't failing to find the air conditioner: it's finding it too expensive. This page comes down to one idea — know the normal price, and refuse everything else.
A stock status is a timestamped signal, never a reservation. Always check the price and the seller on the product page before ordering.
The normal price
The Midea PortaSplit 12 000 BTU reversible is listed at a recommended price of €999. In practice, the official retailers sell it between €899 and €999 depending on promotions. The Cool 8 000 BTU version, which only cools, sits at around €899 on the official store.
Refurbished units are sometimes mentioned at around €799.
The shortage price
On marketplaces, during shortages, third-party sellers list the same unit between €1 200 and €1 500. It's the same box, the same manufacturer's warranty, and several hundred euros more.
The signs that should stop you:
- the seller isn't the retailer but a third party on its marketplace;
- the price clearly exceeds the recommended €999;
- the listing plays on urgency ("last units");
- the product page is vague about the exact version (12 000 BTU reversible or Cool 8 000 BTU).
The habit
Wait. A restock at €949 always comes before €400 of extra cost becomes reasonable. That's exactly the role of the alert: it tells you when the price returns to normal, instead of pushing you to give in.
If you'd rather monitor it yourself, the stock table shows the recorded price and its time for each store. How the alert works is explained in detail here.